7 Creative Painting Invitations for Toddlers and Pre-schoolers (with minimal set up time)

Looking for simple fun and engaging ideas for invitation to create with your toddler or pre-schooler?

I’m super excited to share some creative and fun painting prompts that my children love plus tips to make the experience successful. These “Invitation to Paint” ideas are perfect for toddlers and are designed to be easy to follow while keeping the mess under control. These activities will spark your child’s imagination and nurture a love for creating.

What is an Invitation to Create? 

An Invitation to Create is essentially a setup or prompt that invites your child to engage in a creative activity. It’s about providing them with the tools and materials they need to explore their creativity in a structured yet open-ended way.  

As a first time mum years ago, I did a 31 day Invitation to Create challenge for my then 2yo to spark her creativity and curb my art supply hoarding habit. This shift has been a game changer! Since then, I’ve been setting up these creative process art invitations for all four of my kids. My once 2 year-old, now an 8 year-old, even sets up art invitations for her younger siblings. 

Let’s dive into the magical world of process art and see how these painting prompts can make art time both joyful and enriching. Trust me, both you and your little artist are going to love it!

Table of Contents

• What is an Invitation to Create?
• Invitation to Paint on Aluminium Foil with Cotton Buds 
• Invitation to Paint on Big Blocks of Ice
• Invitation to Paint with Different Shades of a Colour
• Invitation to Paint on Acrylic Mirror 
• Invitation to Paint on Wooden Blocks with Watercolours
• Invitation to Paint on Paper Towels with Pipettes
• Invitation to Paint on Sidewalk with Homemade Chalk Paint

Invitation to Paint on Aluminium Foil with Cotton Buds 

 

Painting in Aluminium Foil using Cotton Buds

This simple invitation is fantastic for toddlers who love to experiment with texture. It’s a unique medium that provides a different sensory experience compared to traditional paper. My kinders looooved this when I did it during my kindergarten teaching days, and so do my kids. 

Setting Up the Invitation 

1. Tear off a sheet of aluminium foil and lay it flat on the workspace. Tape the corners down to keep it from moving. 
2. Provide a few cotton buds and a palette of washable paints. Stick to 2-3 colours for a start. 
3. Encourage your toddler or pre-schooler to dip the cotton bud in paints and create patterns (dots, lines, swirls) on the foil. 
4. Allow your child to experiment with the cotton buds and paints. 

Tips: Using cotton buds as a painting tool can enhance toddler or pre-schooler pre-writing skills and pincer grasp strength. Alternatively, you can add a couple of cookie cutters to inspire your child to make prints (if your toddler or pre-schooler prefers). This offers another opportunity for developing toddler grasp strength and fine motor skills.  

Invitation to Paint on Big Blocks of Ice 

 

This activity is perfect for a hot day and combines the fun of colour mixing with the sensory experience of melting ice. 

Setting Up the Invitation

1. Freeze a couple of massive ice blocks overnight.
2. Set up the ice blocks on a tray or on a piece of thick paper. 
3. Dilute some food colouring or paint in small bowls or containers. 
4. Offer your toddler or pre-schooler a brush to paint on the ice. 
5. Let your child experiment with the paint, watching how it spreads and blends on the ice. 

Tip: If your child isn’t excited about ice, try introducing it gradually. Start with small ice cubes to help them get used to the cold. You can make it interactive by freezing small toys or objects inside the ice for your child to discover as it melts, adding surprise and adventure.

Invitation to Paint with Different Shades of a Colour

Here’s another fun idea to get our little ones painting and exploring shades of colour! We can use cotton wool balls attached to wooden pegs for this activity.

Setting Up the Invitation 

1. Clip cotton wool balls onto wooden pegs as makeshift brushes. 
2. Prepare different shades of your toddler’s or pre-schooler’s favourite colour. Include white for mixing. 
3. Offer a piece of thick paper as your child’s workspace. 
4. Encourage your toddler or pre-schooler to explore the different shades and create a masterpiece.

Tip: This could get messy but embrace the mess even if your child turns every painting activity into a finger-painting and handprint fest! Let your little one dive into the paint and explore their creativity (and fulfill their sensory needs). 

Invitation to Paint on an Acrylic Mirror 

Introducing toddlers and pre-schoolers to painting on acrylic mirrors sparks creativity and sensory exploration, blending reflection with vibrant watercolours

Setting Up the Invitation 

1. Set up a painting area with the acrylic mirror as a canvas.
2. Provide watercolour paints and brushes. 
3. Encourage your toddler or pre-schooler to paint on the mirror.  

Tip: Use a child-safe, shatterproof acrylic mirror to avoid accidents. 

Invitation to Paint on Wooden Blocks with Watercolours

Repurpose old blocks or use cheap craft blocks for painting! It’s a fantastic way to breathe new life into forgotten toys and provide a fresh, exciting canvas for your toddler’s or pre-schooler’s creativity. 

Setting Up the Invitation 

1. Set up a painting area with watercolour, brushes and water cups.
2. Offer a few blocks in the painting area.
3. Let your toddler or pre-schooler paint and decorate the blocks.

Tip: Teach your child to count to 10 while getting paint from the watercolour palette to ensure a good transfer of paint to the brush which will result in a more vibrant colour on the blocks. Offer markers on a separate occasion to add an additional layer for added creativity.

Invitation to Paint on Paper Towels with Pipettes

This fun, quick and easy process art invitation is great for siblings and friends.

Setting Up the Invitation 

1. Prepare bowls of liquid water colours or food colourings (primary colours only for exploring colour mixing).
2. Provide clean bowls of water for washing pipettes between uses.
3. Offer folded paper towels on a tray for each child. 
4. Encourage your toddler or pre-schooler to fill and drop colours onto the paper towels and watch them spread. 

Tip: Using trays helps contain the mess and provides designated workspaces for each child.

Invitation to Paint on Sidewalk with Homemade Chalk Paint 

I saved the best for last because this is hands down my favourite process art activity!! 

Recipe for sidewalk chalk paint 

1. Combine 1 cup of cornflour with 1 cup of water and stir the mixture until the consistency is smooth. 
2. Divide the mixture equally to fill up a muffin tray. 
3. Add a few drops of different food colouring to each muffin tray hole. 

Setting Up the Invitation 

1. Choose a spot where your child can paint comfortably – a sidewalk, bathtub or in the shower. 
2. Lay out the paint brushes, chalk paints and water bucket. 
3. Let your child experiment with chalk paint, mixing colour and creating their own designs. 

Tip: Don’t let the mess fool you, this is soooooo easy to clean. A hose down is all it needs. Clean up can be a fun activity for everyone too. 

And that is it, my 7 all-time favourite invitation to paint prompts for toddlers and pre-schoolers. Nurturing creativity in toddlers or pre-schoolers is all about embracing the mess and cherishing the joy of exploration. These activities not only allow children to express themselves freely but also ignite a lifelong passion for art. 

Trust me, it’s not about the mess; it’s about the memories created and the creative skills nurtured along the way. 

 Happy painting!